Wall construction for fluid heat exchange installation



March 8, 1955 R. 1.. GODSHALK WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR FLUID HEAT EXCHANGE INSTALLATION Q File d Nov. 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l I ill'illlfiklll'lll IIIIIS INVENTOR 1 use]! 1.. Gpdsba/k f ATTORNEY March 8, 1955 R. L. GODSHALK WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR FLUID HEAT EXCHANGE INSTALLATION Fild Nov. 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U INVENTQR us se// Godsha/k ATTORNEY United States Patent WALL CONSTRUCTIGN FOR FLUID HEAT EXCHANGE INSTALLATI ON Russell L. Godshalk, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Babcock & Wilcox Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 19, 1949, Serial No. 128,307

Claims. (Cl. 122-6) This invention herein disclosed relates to a fluid cooled wall construction for a furnace chamber, or passage containing burning fuel or hot gases under pressure. The invention is particularly adapted for use in the construction of a gas tight enclosure for a combustion chamber associated with fluid heat exchange apparatus including wall tubes absorbing a high proportion of the total heat absorbed by the entire installation.

it is advantageous in many cases to operate the furnaces of such installations under positive, or superatrnospheric pressure, and one of the chief advantages is that the combustion air supply fan can operate more eifectively. The reason for this is that the fan is handling air at a lower temperature than the gases which are handled by the induced draft fans of many prior art installations. This promotes longer life for the fan, and also has a beneficiary effect on furnace control since the fan can handle a larger weight of air or gas per unit of time. However, furnace leaks under this method of operation are apt to be more damaging than in induced draft operation. This invention eliminates this disadvantage by providing a leak-proof wall construction of metallic panels seal welded at their edges in such: a way as to compensate for relative movements of different wall components resulting from the temperature differentials between such components, without the use of slip-joints.

In a specific sense the invention includes a row of upright fluid conducting wall tubes, horizontally disposed members welded to the tubes in tangential relation there to, peripherally flanged sheet metal panels welded to those members in such a way as to permit breathing of the construction to such an extent as to compensate for the differences in vertical movements of the panels and the tubes resulting from their temperature differentials. The vertical marginal. portions of adjacent panels are similarly seal welded to each other to reduce the need for vertical supports, and the panels are strengthened at intermediate positions by welding thereto of stiffeners to maintain the integrity and gas tightness of the. wall without any welding of the panels directly to the tubes. Exteriorly of the panels thermal insulating blocks are provided,.held against the panels by securing devices mounted upon the exterior sides of the panels without any perforationsof the latter which might cause gas leaks in the wall.

The wall construction of the invention is. also of such a character that it will withstand furnace draft without distortion or disruption of the seals between adjoining wall panels.

The various features of novelty of the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification, but, for a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying: drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a partial exterior elevation of an embodiment of the illustrative construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. i,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the wall of Fig. 2 broken away in parts for a more graphic disclosure;

Fig. 4' is a partial horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section of a modification of the Fig. 2 wall construction.

The illustrative wall construction shown in Figs. l-4

The spaces between adjacent tubes are filled with a.

high temperature refractory 16 installed as a plastic, or semi-plastic around the side studs 18 and the metallic pins 20, all of which are integrally secured to the tubes in the positions shown.

The refractory material 16 is finished ofl soas to present a substantially plane surface tangent to the outer sides of the tubes and in contact with sheet metal panels such as 22. Each of these panels has upper and lower horizontal flanges such as 24 and 26 (Fig. 2),'with the upper flange seal welded to the channel 12 by a weld 28 disposed at the adjacent outer edges of the panel flange and. the lower flange of the channel. The lower flange '26 of each panel such as 22 is similarly welded to the upper flange of the intermediate channel 13, as at 30. i There are a number of upper panels disposed at the same level as panel 22, and similarly'secured to the channels 12 and: 13. Each of these panels is of an area and construction similar to those of the panel 22a, Fig. 1, the area covered by the panel being indicated by the rectangle A, B C, D, in Fig. 1. Each panel has outstanding flanges such as 32 and 34 (Fig. 1) along its vertical edges, adjacent panels being sealed together'by seal welds similar to the welds 28 and 30, of Fig. 2. For example, the vertical flange 3.4 of panel 22a, andthe contacting flange 36 of panel 22 are seal welded together along their outer edges.

Each panel is stiffened at an intermediate position by an upright bar such as 38 welded to the outer face of the panel, as indicated. at. 40 in Fig. l.

Beneath the intermediate channel 13, there is a series of panels such as 42 and 44 (Fig. 1). These are constructed in the same manner as the panelsv of the upper row with marginal outstanding flanges. The upper and lower flanges such as 46 or 48 (Fig. 2) are welded at their outer edges to the lower flange of the intermediate channel 13 and the upper flange of the lower channel 14,, respectively.

At spaced positions along the outer face of each of the sheet metal panels, such as 22, 22A, 42, and 44, there are internally threaded studs such as 50 and 52 (Fig. 2) welded to the panel's. Threaded into the studs such as 50 and 52, there are externally threaded studs such as 54 and 56. Other positions at which there are similar stud constructions are indicated at 61-69 in Fig. 1. The stud members such as 54'and 56 extend through openings in insulating blocks such as those shown at 70-73. (Figs. 2 and 5). As particularly indicated in Fig. 2, these stud members extend up to the outer faces of the blocks 70-73, and have securing devices threaded thereon for holding the blocks in place.

Externally of the insulating blocks 70-73, a stratum" 80 of insulating material is spread over the surface of the wall. To maintain this stratum in place, a woven wire fabric 82 may be fastened to the wall previous to the installation of the stratum. A finishing coat 83 is applied to the. outer surface of the stratum 80.

At the marginal portions of the sheet metal panels the joints between successive insulating blocks such as 70-73 are filled with insulating material as indicated at 84 and 86 in Fig. 2.

Disposed horizontally and externally of the wall structure above described are buckstay beams such as 90-92. For mutual support, the channels such as 12 and 14 are attached to the buckstays by brackets such as 94-96,

cluding housings such as 110 inclosing the buckstay beams." These housings have flanges such as 112 and 114 to which additional external sheet metal panels such as 116 and 118 are secured. These panels may have outstanding flanges at their vertical margins such as indicated in the dotted line at 120. These panels are secured together at their adjacent vertical margins in a suitable manner and each panel structure is secured to the flanges 112 and 114 by suitable securing devices, such as 122 and 124.

Each housing 110 encloses the interior guide and support angles 130'and 132 (secured to the web of beam 92) and the co-acting angles 134 and 136 (secured to the sides of the housing). These angles maintain adjacent panels in their operative positions while permitting the panels to move slightly toward or from each other, with attendant contraction or expansion of the housing.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes 1 have illustrated and described herein the best form of my invention now known to me, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention covered by my claims, and that certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wall for a fluid heat exchange installation, a row of fluid heat exchange tubes exposed on one side to high temperature heating gases, a gas tight casing including horizontally extending metallic members disposed externally and transversely of the tubes at vertically spaced positions and welded thereto. said metallic members also tangentially contacting the tubes, outwardly flanged sheet metal panels secured to said metallic members and seal welded thereto and to each other, said panels being tangentially disposed relative to the tubes, a stratum of thermal insulating material disposed externally of and against the panels, and metallic securing devices for the stratum extending through said stratum and welded to the exterior of the panels.

2. In a fluid heat exchange installation, a row of fluid conducting tubes defining a wall of a chamber or passage for high temperature gases, a casing construction including marginally and outwardly flanged sheet metal panels disposed along the outer sides of the tubes and substan- 'tially tangentially thereto, metallic channels extending transversely of the tubes and substantially tangentially thereof between said panels, the channels being welded to the tubes, the panels being welded along their marginal flanges to the flanges of adjacent panels and to the flanges of said channels to provide a gas tight casing construction for the installation, high temperature refractory material disposed between the adjacent tubes and forming a single plane face substantially tangential to the tubes, thermal insulating materials disposed exteriorly of the panels, and anchoring devices secured to the panels on the side away from said tubes and extending through the insulating material to maintain it against the panels.

3. In a wall construction for furnaces or the like, a row of aligned fluid heat exchange tubes exposed on one side to high temperature heating gases, vertically spaced horizontal channel members welded to the tubes along their webs, a gas tight casing including outwardly flanged and impcrforate sheet metal panels seal welded at the outer edge of their flanges to each other and to the flanges of said channels, the panels being otherwise free from the tubes, a stratum of thermal insulating material disposed against the panels on the surface away from said tubes, and metallic insulation securing devices for the stratum extending through said stratum each having a part welded to a panel.

4. In a wall for a fluid heat exc nnge installation, a row of aligned wall tubes subjected on one side to the heat of high temperature gases, vertically spaced horizontal channels having their webs disposed tangentially of the tubes and welded thereto, imperforate metallic panel members seal welded together externally of the tubes and substantially tangentially related thereto, the panel members having outwardly extending flanges seal welded to the channels but otherwise free from the tubes, 2. stratum of thermal insulating blocks disposed externally of said welded panel members, and metallic securing devices welded to the exterior sides-of said members and extending through the insulating blocks to secure them in their operative positions.

5. In a fluid heat exchange installation, a row of fluid conducting tubes defining a wall of a chamber or passage for high temperature gases, a casing construction including marginally and outwardly flanged sheet metal panels disposed tangentially along the outer sides of the tubes, metallic supports extending transversely of the tubes and substantially tangentially thereof between said panels, the supports being welded to the tubes, the panels being welded along their marginal flanges to the flanges of adjacent panels and to the flanges of said supports to provide a gas tight casing construction for the installation, high temperature refractory material disposed between the adjacent tubes, thermal insulating material disposed exteriorly of the panels, and anchoring devices secured to the panels on the side away from the tubes and extending through the insulating material to maintain it against the panels.

6. In a wall construction for furnaces or the like, a row of upright fluid heat exchange tubes exposed on one side to high temperature heating gases, a gas tight casing including horizontal metallic members disposed externally and transversely of the tubes at vertically spaced positions and secured thereto, outwardly flanged and imperforate sheet metal panels secured to said last named members and seal welded thereto and to each other to provide a gas tight casing construction, a stratum of thermal insulating material disposed externally of and against the panels, and metallic insulation securing devices for and extending through said stratum each having a part welded to the exterior side of a panel.

7. In a wall construction for furnaces or the like, a row of upright fluid heat exchange tubes arranged to absorb heat on one side from a high temperature source of heat, a gas-tight casing including metallic structural members disposed externally and transversely of the tubes at vertically spaced positions and welded thereto, and outwardly flanged sheet metal panels having the outer edge portions of their flanges seal-welded to said structural members, each of said panels having each of its marginal flanges disposed in a plane at an angle of greater than to the plane of the main body portion of the panel with the flanges at opposite sides of each panel divergent outwardly away from the heat source, each of said panel sections and the structural members also extending over a plurality of tubes tangent thereto and each tube extending over a plurality of panel sections.

8. In a wall construction for furnaces or the like, a row of upright fluid heat exchange tubes arranged to absorb heat on one side from a high temperature source of heat, a gas-tight casing including metallic structural members contacting the tubes and tangentially disposed externally and transversely of the tubes at vertically spaced positions and welded thereto, and sheet metal panels having flexible marginal portions flanged away from said tubes with their main portions substantially tangentially related to the tubes and contacting the sides of the tubes remote from said sources of heat, the outer edge portions of said panels being seal-welded together and to said metallic structural members, each of said panels having each of its marginal flanges disposed in a plane at an angle of greater than 90 to the plane of the main body portion of the panel with the flanges at opposite sides of each panel divergent outwardly away from the heat source, each of said panel sections and the structural members also extending over a plurality of tubes tangent thereto and each tube extending over a plurality of panel sections.

9. In a wall construction for furnaces or the like, a row of upright fluid heat exchange tubes arranged to absorb heat on one side from a high temperature source of heat, a gas-tight casing including metallic structural channel members disposed externally and tangentially transversely of the tubes at vertically spaced positions and welded thereto with the webs of the channels directly welded to the tubes, and sheet metal panels disposed between said structural members and extending across said tubes tangentially to their sides remote from said source of heat, said panels having marginal portions flanged outwardly away from the tubes, the outer edge portions of said flanges being seal-welded to the edges of the flanges of the channel members, each of said panels having each of its marginal flanges disposed in a plane at an angle of greater than 90 to the plane of the main body portion of the panel with the flanges at opposite sides of each panel divergent outwardly away from the heat source, each of said panel sections and the structural members also extending over a plurality of tubes tangent thereto and each tube extending over a plurality of panel sections.

10. In a gas confining boundary construction for pressure fired heat exchange apparatus, a plurality of adjacent fluid heat exchange tubes arranged in boundary alignment to absorb heat from a high temperature source of heat on one side of the plurality of tubes, a flexible gas-tight metallic casing wall on the opposite side of the plurality of tubes from the heat source and including aligned and marginally flanged metallic panel sections with the outer edges of their marginal flanges seal welded to form a gas-tight wall, and means holding the casing wall in tangential relationship to the sides of the tubes upposite the heat source, the marginal flanges of each panel being disposed in planes at an angle substantially greater than 90 to the plane of the main enclosed body of the panel with the flanges at opposite sides of each panel divergent outwardly away from the heat source, each of said panel sections also covering and being tangent to a plurality of the tubes and each tube extending over a plurality of panel sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,761,567 Kerr June 3, 1930 1,774,150 Murray Aug. 26, 1930 1,879,610 Hatter Sept. 27, 1932 1,900,445 Jacobus et a1 Mar. 7, 1933 1,922,599 Murray Aug. 15, 1933 1,975,268 Grady Oct. 2, 1934 1,981,648 Keenan, Jr. et al Nov. 20, 1934 2,120,129 Hardgrove et al. June 7, 1938 2,144,598 Brinckerhofl et al. Jan. 17, 1939 2,228,953 Hackett Jan. 14, 1941 2,249,799 Trainer July 22, 1941 2,305,611 Frisch Dec. 22, 1942 2,333,777 Godshalk Nov. 9, 1943 2,368,265 Shellenberger et al J an. 30, 1945 2,536,039 Craven Jan. 2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 430,021 Great Britain June 11, 1935 

